‘Too soon to celebrate’ Iran nuclear deal, say Germany, France

WROCLAW: EU heavyweights Germany and France on Friday cautiously welcomed the framework nuclear agreement struck with Iran but Berlin’s chief diplomat warned there was “no guarantee” it would ultimately succeed.

“It’s good, but at the same time it’s too early to celebrate.

We laid the corner stone yesterday,” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said following talks with his French and Polish counterparts in Wroclaw, Poland.

“Every negotiator… knows there is no guarantee of successful negotiations,” he added, urging continued efforts to transform the framework agreement signed Thursday between Iran and major powers into a fully-fledged deal.

His caution was echoed by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius who said Iran would “still have to go all the way”.

“There are very complex issues that need work,” Fabius said, welcoming what he termed the “indisputable progress” that must be regarded with “objectivity and hope.”

He said there was “more work to do to arrive at the finish line, the finish line being a general agreement to be ratified by the UN Security Council.”

“Our people are going back to work (negotiations) next week,” Fabius said.